Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-10
IELTS Writing Task 2 question
Some people like to try new things, for example, places to visit and types of food. Other people prefer to keep doing things they are familiar with.
Discuss both these attitudes and give your own opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Student answer (Band 5.5)
It is highly debatable question among people whether to try different food and visiting globally or continue doing the familiar things in their daily life. In my opinion, the blend of both would be a great choice for everyone.
On the one side, experimenting new dishes allows people to develop a different taste that they have never tried before, making them feel comfortable with the variety of food. Moreover, discovering new places will provide a sense of satisfaction and mesmerized experience, depending on the popularity of that spots. However, one can feel scared of being lost in such places. To exemplify, hikers tend to find new places to witness a beautiful view from the mountain.
On the other hand, trying same aspects everytime gives the feeling of being safe. Restaurants are likely to remember its regular orders which means people would not have to compromise in their developed taste. Although it offers similar experience, some individuals find it boring. At certain point, people want excitement in their everyday life moments, and this phonomeon cannot satisfy some people.
To conclude, both the approaches have its own benefits and drawbacks, but in my opinion, people should definitely experience new things alongside other familiar activities.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the essay is significantly under the 250-word minimum requirement, which limits the depth of the discussion. Ideas are introduced but not fully developed; for example, the point about hikers is mentioned briefly but lacks a clear connection to the broader argument about the benefits of trying new things. To reach a higher band, you must expand your supporting arguments with more detailed explanations and specific examples to ensure the response is sufficiently developed and meets the length requirement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices such as 'On the one side', 'Moreover', and 'However' to link your points. However, the transitions are sometimes mechanical, and the overall structure is quite brief. The referencing is generally clear, but the limited length prevents the development of more complex cohesive links between sentences and paragraphs. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph contains a well-developed central idea that flows naturally into the next.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You use some appropriate phrases like 'highly debatable' and 'sense of satisfaction', but there are also some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'mesmerized experience' (should be 'mesmerizing') and 'phonomeon' (spelling error). The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on fairly common words. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary and ensure that your word choices are contextually accurate and natural.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'It is highly debatable question' (missing article), 'trying same aspects' (missing article), and 'both the approaches have its own benefits' (subject-verb agreement error). These errors do not significantly impede communication, but they are frequent enough to affect the overall fluency. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, the correct use of articles, and proofreading for minor slips to ensure greater accuracy in your complex sentences.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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